Section 242
Mercury and the Man Bitten by an Ant explained simply
Aesop's Fables by Aesop
Original excerpt
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A Man once saw a ship go down with all its crew, and commented severely on the injustice of the gods. "They care nothing for a man's character," said he, "but let the good and the bad go to their deaths together." There was an ant-heap close by where he was standing, and, just...
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Public-domain original
A Man once saw a ship go down with all its crew, and commented
severely on the injustice of the gods. "They care nothing for a man's
character," said he, "but let the good and the bad go to their deaths
together." There was an ant-heap close by where he was standing, and,
just as he spoke, he was bitten in the foot by an Ant. Turning in a
temper to the ant-heap he stamped upon it and crushed hundreds of
unoffending ants. Suddenly appeared, and belaboured him with
his staff, saying as he did so, "You villain, where's your nice sense
of justice now?"
Public-domain original text shown for study context. Underlined terms can be tapped for simple reader notes.
What happens here
A Man once saw a ship go down with all its crew, and commented severely on the injustice of the gods.
Why this scene matters
This fable matters because it turns a common human habit into a short lesson about judgment and consequences.
Characters in this scene
- Mercury: A figure in the fable whose choice helps reveal the lesson.
- The Man Bitten by an Ant: A figure in the fable whose choice helps reveal the lesson.
Simple story version
A Man once saw a ship go down with all its crew, and commented severely on the injustice of the gods. "They care nothing for a man's character," said he, "but let the good and the bad go to their deaths together." There was an ant-heap close by where he was standing, and, just as he spoke, he was bitten in the foot by an Ant.